Pump and metering device



`lune 13, 1939.

E. H. WAUGH PUMP AND METERING DEVICE Filed Nov. l2, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,J fu BY. 1 ATTORNEYS June 113, 1939. I E H WAUGH 2,162,144

PUMP AND METERING DEVICE Filed NOV. l2, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I I Edward fit. Wam h JZ? m E/ ,@vr'

ATTORNEYS June 13, 1939. E. H. WAUGH PUMP AND METERING DEVICE Filed Nov. l2, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet ."5

a. 4 o me /9 ...0 5. wl 4 o a, il 6 am .rw WH 6 l ll. 8 I. v 7 f 0 au au m 7 H I IN I.' 3 y// Eiclwqffd (INVENTOR @Y Waugh r Y ATTOR N EYS June 13, 1939. E, H, WAUGH PUMPy AND METERING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. l2, 1935 (INVENTOR n I WQ )17 ATTORNEYS Patented June 13, 1939 N'E STATES TENT OFFBQE PUMP AND METERING DEVICE Application November 12, 1935, Serial No. 49,418

3 Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of metering and filling devices and more specically to a pump and metering device.

This invention provides a convenient and ei- 5 cient means for drawing a liquid out of a reservoir, measuring a definite quantity and then eX- pelling that measured quantity out of the metering cylinder into sales or storage containers. The form shown in the accompanying drawings is one which is particularly adapted for the filling of paint cans of the type employing friction tops.

Many types of metering and. dispensing devices have been provided in the past to meet certain conditions. In commercial plants, however, there is an urgent need for a device which will accurately ll containers and close the same at a high rate of speed. To accomplish this result each of the various steps must be so synchronized that there will be a minimum loss of time between successive operations, which in turn necessitates a full automatic operation. In my present device I prefer to use air under pressure as the energizing means, although any suitable fluid under pressure might be used, and the timing of the various steps in the operation of withdrawing liquid from a reservoir, measuring it and placing it in the containers and iinally pressing the cover fully home are each operated by air under pressure from a single source and. the timing is so arranged that, when one operation is completed, control means is operated by the unit completing its operation, to energize the operating means for the next succeeding operation.

The principal object of this present invention is to provide an automatic machine that is fluid pressure operated and which will withdraw liquid from a reservoir, measure it and discharge it into suitable containers.

A further object of this invention is to provide control means which are in turn made operative by the completion of the next preceding operation.

A still further object is to provide a device of the character described so arranged that the timing of the various operations will be automatically controlled to the end that high speed operation will be practical.

An additional object of this invention is to provide convenient means for adapting this device for the filling of containers of different sizes and shapes.

Other and more specic objects will be apparent from the following description taken in (Cl. 10S-50) connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 illustrates, in perspective view, one embodiment of this present invention.

Figure la is an enlarged sectional detail View 5 of' an automatic pressure-controlled liquid valve, and timing air-valve.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a machine made after teachings of this invention with the various air control lines shown diagrammatically. 10

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section showing the cover press used with this equipment.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, taken along the axis of the pum-p and. 15 measuring cylinder.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan View showing certain of the air control means in section and illustrating the adjustable means for varying the stroke and consequently the capacity of the 20 measuring cylinder.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing one form of conveyor means which has been found to be Very satisfactory for use with this type of equipment. 25

Figure 7 is a fragmentary end elevation of the pump and metering cylinder illustrating the valving means controlling the intake and. discharge openings of the same.

Figure '7a is a sectional detail View of the can- 30 filling head for dispensing the liquid-paint, showing the automatic air control device therefor.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference characters indicate like parts, 9 designates the fram'e work forming the founda- 35 tion of my device. This is formed preferably with a structural steel frame work having the table like top l0 and being mounted upon wheels as l2 to permit its easy movement from one tank to another. Disposed underneath table top I0 40 and preferably on the lower members of framework 9, is the pump and metering assembly proper, i4. This assembly provides the basis of my entire device. It consists, essentially, of an open-end cylinder I4 and which has, disposed 45 for reciprocation therein, the hollow, iioating, pump piston I6. This unit is probably best illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 in which the tubular pump piston I6 is shown in two different positions. In Figure 2 it is shown as moved to the 50 left at the end of a suction stroke until it abuts the lixed stop Il on stem 25. In Figure 4 it is shown in its extreme right position as it would appear at the end of its Working stroke and just preceding the suction stroke in the cylinder I4. 55

The head or pump end of the floating piston is fashioned with exterior annular flanges I9 and 20 which provide the obturation grooves 22 and 23, and these flanges also serve as guides for the piston I6 as it reciprocates in the cylinder I4. The opposite, or free end, of the piston I6 is guided on an axially alined, tubular stem; 25, which is securely fixed as by a set screw 25 in a support or frame 21 forming an extension of the cylinder I4. The right end of stem 25 in Figures 2 and 4 projects into the hollow iloating pump piston Iii and an abutment or stationary head 28 is mounted on the stem, within the hollow piston. The rear end of the hollow piston is closed by a head which is provided with a stuffing gland 35, and between this gland and the fixed end of the stem 25, a stop collar I'I is fixed on the exterior of the stem, to limit the movement of the suction stroke of the pump piston, as indicated in Figure 2. Within the hollow iioating piston I6 an air chamber 3| is provided, to which air under pressure is admitted for the pumping or working stroke of the piston through an inner air pipe 32 within the tubular stem 25, and this pipe 32 receives air under pressure from the branch pipe 33. When air pressure is thus introduced to the interior of chamber 3|, at the right hand side of the stationary head 28, it will l be apparent that the hollow piston I5 is moved to the right from position in Figure 2 to position of Figure 4, thus imparting an impulse to the liquid paint contained in the cylinder I4.

For the return or suction stroke of the pump piston I5, vair under pressure is admitted to the air chamber 3| at the left side of the stationary head 28, and the motive fluid for this purpose is supplied from a branch pipe 35 connected at one end of the tubular stem 25. The stem 25 is provided with air ports 3l adjacent its otherwise closed end that is fitted into the stationary head, and these ports open into the chamber 3| at the rear of the head. Under pressure thus admitted to the chamber 3|, the pump piston is moved to the position indicated in Figure 2 where the collar Il has stopped or limited its movement.

The liquid paint is supplied from a suitable reservoir, not shown, through a hose |04 connected with the inlet pipe 39, and a supply of the liquid is drawn into the cylinder I4, with each suction stroke of the piston, through an inlet port 4I fashioned in an oscillatable disk valve or plate-valve 4 Ia. With each working stroke of the piston I6, the liquid is forced out of the cylinder I4 through an outlet port 42 of this oscillatable disk-valve 4Ia, which is mounted at one end of' the cylinder I4.

The measured quantities of liquid paint are thus expelled in impulses, through port 42 of the valve and an outlet port |04 in the cylinder head, and through a connection 43 into an upright pipe or stand-pipe ISI, from which the liquid paint is passed through a horizontal filling pipe IIa to the lling-head or delivery head 45.

'From this filling-head, the liquid is delivered into cans 4l as they are successively conveyed to position directly under the head.

The liquid control valve 4I used in connection with the liquid cylinder I4, is journaled to turn with a pin`63 mounted on the end or head of the cylinder, and the ports 4I and 42, as seen in Figure 7, are fashioned in the edge of the circular plate or disk. For operating or turning the diskvalve, 'a linkage is employed which consists of the crank arm 64 fixed to the pin, a link 65, and two'spaced cranks 65 and 6'I which' are xed on a rock shaft 63 journaled in a bearing bracket 69 above the pump assembly, and adapted to be rocked, alternately, in opposite directions, by power from an air-motor.

The crank El is operated by a pitman 10, which in turn is reciprocated by action of the air-motor which includes the air cylinder 'I2 having airpipes 93h and 94h connected at its opposite ends. The air motor also includes two spaced pistons 'I4 and 'I5 connected by stems 'I5' to an intermediate head 'I'G through which head a crosspin 'I'I extends transversely, and the cylinder 'I2 is slotted to permit movement of the pin and guide it in its sliding reciprocal movement. One end of the pin is fixed to the pitman l0, and the other end of the pin projects laterally through the slotted wall of the cylinder 'I2 to form a tappet.

This piston assembly forms a reciprocal servomotor, operated by air pressure alternately entering the m'otor through pipes 93h and 94h, for the actuation of the linkage, and through the described linkage, the disk-valve for the liquid cylinder is oscillated as described.

At each end of the travel of the piston assembly 'I4-'l5, through the tappet 'I'I, alternately contacts with spaced collars 'I8 and 'I9 on a piston rod or valve-stem 8U mounted in parallelism with the pistons 'I4- 75. Slide valves 3| and 82 are mounted on the stem to slide in an air cylinder 83 which has connected thereto a mainline air pipe 93 that receives a supply of air under pressure from a suitable supply pipe A.

t opposite sides of the main pipe 93 are connected pipes 95 and 96 to which are connected the respective pipes 35 and 33 that supply the air under pressure to the pump.

As best seen in Figure la, the liquid from the stand-pipe Il flows into the feed pipe II) Ia, and this flow is controlled by a spring pressed hollow ported valve 55 within the valve casing 56, and above this spring pressed hydraulic valve, an air piston-valve 56a is located within the casing in position to close an air port 93h. The two valves 55 and 56a move as a unit, and it will be apparent that an impulse from the pump conveyed through the column of paint in the stand pipe, will lift the hydraulic valve 56' and also the air valve 56a, the former to permit a charge of liquid paint to be forced into the feed pipe IOIa, and the latter to close the air port of pipe 93h, which pipe communicates with the cylinder '|2, of the air-control appliance.

The liquid paint, under hydraulic pressure Apasses through the feed pipe, to the hollow dislower end of a stem 45h sldable in bearings within the hollow head, and the upper end of the stem is provided with a reciprocable piston 50 located above an air-port from the air pipe 96. The cut-off head 45 is held closed against the ported face plate by hydraulic pressure and a spring 45o, but it is lifted to open position by air under pressure entering through pipe 96 and its inlet port. The charge of paint is discharged from the head 45 by air pressure entering the upper end of the hollow head through air pipe 50 to depress the piston 54 and with it the circular cut-olf head 45' and this depression of the cut-off head forces the liquid paint through the porte'dface plate into the cam'4'I until the 'cut- "f5 off head 45' reaches the end of its down-stroke, at which time the ported face plate is closed.

After a can 47 has been lled with the liquid paint a lid 41 is applied thereto in suitable manner, and the i'llled can with its lid is conveyed from the discharge head to a press 52 where the lid is pressed into sealed position to close the lled can. As best seen in Figure 3 this press includes a double acting pneumatic piston |96 reciprocable in the hollow casing of the press, and air under pressure is supplied below the piston through pipe 95e to lift the presser head |01, while air under pressure is supplied above the piston through pipe 95e to depress this presser head and force the loose lid 4l into the open top of the can 41. The presser head |91 is mounted on the lower end of an adjustable screw bar |08 passing vertically through the press casing, and this bar may be turned by use of the crank handle ||l8a to adjust the presser head |07 to cans of dilTerent heights. The adjusting screw bar is threaded in a long bushing or sleeve |09 upon which the piston |06 is xed, and it will be apparent that the screw bar, the sleeve, the piston and the presser head may reciprocate as a unit, under air pressure, the sleeve or bushing being guided in slide bearings of the casing 52.

By means of an intermittently operating conveyer the empty cans are fed step by step to the lling head, and by the same means the filled cans are conveyed to the press for sealing of their lids, and then the sealed cans are conveyed from the press. This conveyer may be of appropriate construction, and its movement for successively feeding the cans is synchronized with the pump, the hydraulic control valve 56', the filling head |35, and the press 52, al1 of which are interconnected by air pipes communicating with an automatic control device.

The conveyer here illustrated includes a horizontally reciprocable plate 54, located above the table I9 and provided with V-shaped notches to engage against the peripheries of the cans 41, and thereby push or feed the cans past the lling head and the press. The cans are guided, at one side, by means of an adjustable plate 55, and at the opposite side by guide arms 55', and a spring-pressed safety lever or guard arm 60 is located in the path of movement of the successive cans for co-action with yother parts whereby the pumping strokes are suspended or stopped in the absence of a can in the feed line'. In this manner, the filling head is prevented from discharging a charge of the liquid paint in the event a can it not in position to receive the discharge.

The lever 6U has a short arm extending from its pivot point 6| and the free end of the short arm is engaged by the free end of a pistonvalve stem 5l that is reciprocable in the valve casing 58. Within the casing the stem has two heads 51a and 51h and a spring 62 presses the piston-assembly into contact with the short arm of the lever 6D to hold the free end of the long arm of the lever in the path of the moving cans. A normally open safety air-line 58h and 580 is connected with ports in the casing 58 between the two valve-heads 51a and 51h and this open air line is interrupted or closed by valve head 51a in the absence of a can from contact with the `free end of the long arm of lever 60. Normally, the can holds the lever 69 against pressure of the spring 62, but it will be apparent that in the absence of the can, the

spring is free to swing the lever on its pivot into the space in the line of cans, and this action of the spring closes valve 51a to shut off communication of air between pipes 94a, and 9411.

The conveyer plate 64 is reciprocated to slide on its back stroke beneath stationary cans, one of which is thereby placed beneath the lling head and another is placed beneath the press, and on the forward stroke of the conveyer plate, the cans which are engaged by the notches 54 of the plate are pushed or fed, one step at a time, along the conveyer and the table top.

For this reciprocating movement of the conveyer an air-motor is located beneath the table top and a toothed rack 89 is mounted on the underface of the plate 54. A slotted air cylinder 83 is supported beneath the table top and provided with air pistons 85 and 86 fixed at the opposite ends of a stem 81 and a cross head 88 is rigidly fixed at the approximate center of the stem. This head has an operating rack arm 88a in engagement with the rack 39, and it will be apparent that as the double piston and cross head are reciprocated this movement is imparted to the conveyer. Air under pressure is alternately introduced to the outer ends of the cylinder 83 through branch pipes 83a and 83h, the former being connected with pipe 96 and the latter connected with pipe 95, to receive air under pressure for impingement against the outer ends of the respective pistons.

In connection with the reciprocating cross head 88 of the conveyer-operating mechanism I employ a tappet 88h for use with an air pressure control, or valve control mechanism, including a valve stem 90 having two spaced tappet heads 99a and 991), and at opposite ends of the stem are mounted piston valves 9| and 92 in the respective cylinders 9| a and 92a, to the outer ends of which cylinders are connected air supply pipes A and 94, respectively.

The air pipes 93a and 93h which are connected with the pneumatic control valve 56a, are also connected with these cylinders 9|a and 92a, and as shown, these latter pipes are alternately vented to the atmosphere through the open inner ends of the cylinders. Thus, in Figure 2 it will be seen that the tappet 88h in contact with tappet head 90b has moved piston-valve 92 past the port of pipe 94 and this pipe is vented to the atmosphere. Piston 9| has been moved to open the port of cylinder 9|a so that air under pressure from pipe A will flow through the cylinder and thence through pipe 93a to the automatically controlled air valve, 56.

Air is supplied under pressure from a suitable source through the supply pipe A, and branch pipes, in pairs, are extended to the reciprocating devices as well as the oscillating valve, which controls the intake and outflow oi liquid paint to and from the pump, and these several devices are so synchronized with the operation of the pump that the intermittent or successive impulses of the pump maintain an automatic operation of the machine, through the use of the pneumatic control devices.

The hydraulic valve 56', which is intermittently lifted or opened by successive pump impulses, automatically closes the air valve 56a to cut oir air pressure through pipe 93B to the air motor 12 of the paint valve, and the hydraulic valve is depressed or lowered to closed position by air pressure from the main pipe A through valve 9| and pipe 93a to the valve casing 56.

The conveyer mechanism is actuated through the air motor 83 under air pressure alternately introduced and vented at the opposite ends of the cylinder 83, and the safety device 58 automatically renders the pump control motor 12, the con- Veyer operating mechanism, the lling head, and the press, inoperative, when air pressure is cut 01T at the casing 58 between pipes 94a and 94B.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with open-end cylinder having a ported-head, a ported valve mounted on the head, and means for oscillating the valve, of a hollow piston having closed ends and reciprocable in the open-end cylinder, a fixed tubular stem extended through an end-opening into the piston, a xed head on the stem Within the piston, said stem having a port at one side of the head, a pipe within the stem having a port at the opposite side of the head, means for alternately supplying air under pressure to said stem and pipe for operating said piston, and pneumatic means for operating said ported valve in synchronism with the piston.

2. The combination Within open-end cylinder having an end-head and inlet and outlet ports in said head, a disk-valve mounted on the head adapted to open and close said ports, and means for oscillating the disk-valve, of a hollow piston having closed ends and in the cylinder and a fixed head in said piston, means for supplying air under pressure within the piston at opposite sides of the xed head to operate said piston, and pneumatic means for operating the disk valve in synchronism with the piston.

3. The combination With an open end cylinder having a ported head, a support for the cylinder, a rigid frame projecting from the open end of the cylinder, a ported valve mounted on the head, and means for oscillating the Valve, of a hollow piston having closed ends and reciprocable in the cylinder, a tubular stem rigidly mounted in said frame and projecting through a slide bearing in one end of the piston, a head on the stem Within the piston, a pipe Within the stem having a port at the opposite side of the head, means for alternately supplying air under pressure to said stem and pipe to operate the piston, and pneumatic means for oscillating the valve in synchronism with the piston.

EDWARD H. WAUGH. 

